Chiba For the First Time

Probably the first place that people go to within Chiba Prefecture is Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. A little bit misleading given the word "Tokyo" is part of the name but the magic kingdom is actually located in the city of Urayasu. It was actually the first Disney park that was built outside of the United States in 1983 and boasts over 10 million annual visitors. The revenue generated from these Disney theme parks exceeds all other theme parks within Japan combined. But this prefecture actually has a lot more than just Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Filled with beautiful nature, great surfing and of course Yachimata City, best known for its branded peanuts, Chiba Prefecture is for sure an area not to be missed out of your itinerary. Given that it's only a train ride away from Tokyo, you can even make it a day trip to some of these gorgeous areas. Tokyo Disney SeaTokyo Disney SeaTokyo Disney SeaTokyo Disney SeaTokyo Disney SeaIf you haven't been already, both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea are definitely worth checking out whether you are going as a family, a couple or with friends. It is often known that the more "mature" crowd would venture off to the "sea" from the "land". Given that alcohol is only served at Tokyo Disney Sea, it kind of makes sense why this trend would occur.

Venturing out further around Chiba Prefecture, Mt. Nokogiri (Nokogiriyama) is another place you must visit on the Boso Peninsula. On the Western side of this mountain lies the Nihon-ji Temple area where the largest pre-modern stone-carved Buddha in all of Japan at 31 meters high is located. At the top of the mountain, there is also a spectacular view where you can also get a glimpse of Mt. Fuji on a clear day. This mountain range was used widely during the Edo Period as a stone quarry, which is quite evident from the rock formations. Mt. NokogiriMt. NokogiriMt. NokogiriNot far from Mt. Nokogiri is Mother Farm or Mother Bokujyo, which is a great place for a nice getaway from the busy city life in Tokyo. Whether you are going here with a family or with friends, there is a little bit of everything offered at this park. Covering over 2.5 million acres of land, this theme park offers a variety of activities from milking cows, playing with small animals, picking seasonal vegetables, fruits and flowers, making various types of foods produced directly on the farm, small theme park rides, tours around the farm and some delicious restaurants. Definitely a perfect spot if the weather pans out for you. Mother FarmMother FarmMother FarmAnother interesting spot that may catch your interest is the German themed Doitsu Mura or German Village. Covering over 910 square meters, this theme park may be of interest for those who enjoy mini golf, archery, grass sledding, beautiful gardens, delicious German food and much more. This park also surprisingly offers one of the best Christmas illuminations in Japan.

For those that want a little more action in their adventure or who simply want a nice tan, Chiba Prefecture offers some of the best surfing and tanning spots. Head off to Kujukuri Beach, Japan’s second longest beach and widely known beach resort, specifically Ichinomiya Beach for some gnarly waves, Okitsu Beach, which has some of the cleanest sand and shallow waters, Ubara Beach, which is surrounded by some picturesque nature or Futomi Beach, located in the Kamogawa area for some awesome waves that will for sure take you for a spin. There are actually many more beaches within this prefecture that are worth checking out, so if you have been to any that are not listed here, please let us know! Within the Kamogawa area is also Kamogawa Sea World, a perfect spot for anyone wanting to take a break from the waves and experience some really awesome sea life.

For those of you that love to shop, Chiba Prefecture also offers one of the most robust outlet malls in all of Japan, the Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu. Some notable brand shops that are located here include but not limited to, Burberry, Armani, The North Face, Lacoste, Beams, Coach, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Barneys New York, Michael Kors, Cole Haan, Under Armour, Nike, Kate Spade, Furla, Hugo Boss, Longchamp, and many more.

And lastly, if you are arriving to Japan via Narita Airport…well this airport is also in Chiba Prefecture, it may be a good idea to spend a couple of hours around Narita in order to easily access the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. This ancient temple was built in the year 940 and was a big part of religion within Japanese history as the founder of the Shingon Sect was said to have carved the statue that is worshipped here. Another unique aspect of this temple is the path leading to the temple entrance, known as Omotesando. From the train station to the temple entrance, you can explore the many stores and restaurants lining the road that have been selling traditional goods and food for centuries. Naritasan Shinshoji TempleNaritasan Shinshoji TempleNaritasan Shinshoji TempleThere is so much more to this beautiful prefecture than just the Disney theme parks, so make sure to explore the surrounding areas and if you have any other places that you recommend for our fellow Odigoers to go, please leave a comment down below!